How to Wash Produce

Let’s face it— fruits and vegetables are dirty. Between harvesting, handling, and packaging, they build up a lot of crud and critters (yikes!) In fact, the Environmental Working Group releases an annual “Dirty Dozen” list with the 12 fruits and veggies found most contaminated with pesticides according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The bottom line is all produce needs to be washed at home before being eaten or cooked to remove dirt, bacteria, small bugs, and lingering residual pesticides, and a few seconds under the faucet doesn’t cut it. Skipping out on this critical step is potentially dangerous, as some bacteria can lead to serious food-borne illnesses. So, let’s get back to basics and talk about how to wash your produce so it’s really clean.

How to wash leafy greens

We’ve all lived through a mass recall of store-bought leafy greens or seen a headline of an outbreak of leafy green-related food poisoning. That’s because leafy greens, like lettuce, kale, and spinach, are notorious for harboring dirt and nasty bacteria like E.coli because of how they grow. Here’s how to wash leafy greens.

How to wash lettuce

Prepare a large bowl with cold water. Start by removing and discarding any damaged outer leaves. Next, separate the lettuce leaves from the head and add them to the water. Swish the leaves around with your hands to remove any dirt. Drain and repeat this process with new clean water a few times to ensure the leaves are properly cleaned. If you’re working with a small amount of lettuce, you can opt for a salad spinner for quicker work. Simply place the leaves in the colander portion of the spinner and fill the spinner bowl with cold water. Gently swoosh the leaves and then let them sit in the water bath for three to five minutes. After, remove the colander, dump out the water in the bowl and spin the leaves for at least 15 seconds or until dry.

How to wash kale

Submerge the kale in a large bowl with cold water for 10 to 15 minutes and rub the leaves to loosen any dirt. If you’re working with just one bunch, add it to a large colander and soak it under cold water for at least five to 10 minutes.

How to wash spinach

Similar to lettuce, start by picking out and discarding any brown or moldy leaves. Then, add spinach leaves to a colander or salad spinner and let them sit under cool running water for two minutes.

How to wash berries

There is a common misconception you shouldn’t wash fresh berries because it accelerates their spoilage. While it’s true that fresh berries have a tendency to go bad fast, they still need to be washed. The key is timing — for fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, it’s best to wait to wash them until right before they’re eaten.

How to wash strawberries

You can wash strawberries in cold or hot water. Both work, but if you are planning on storing them, submerging them in a large bowl of hot water (about 125°F to be specific) helps them keep for longer. Soak the strawberries for at least 30 seconds or up to five minutes, periodically swishing them gently with your hands. If storing, let them air-dry on a paper towel-lined baking sheet first.

How to wash blueberries

Place blueberries in a colander or small hand-held sieve. Rinse them under running cool water for about one to two minutes. Pat the blueberries dry with paper towels before eating.

How to wash raspberries

Raspberries are extremely delicate, so you want to avoid rinsing them under running water to prevent the water pressure from breaking up the fruit. Instead, place raspberries in a colander and gently dunk them in a bowl of cold water, swishing them occasionally. Blot them with a paper towel before eating.

How to wash tomatoes

It’s tempting to want to skip out on washing a bright red or yellow tomato, especially in the summer. Luckily, they are easy to wash. Hold tomatoes under cold running water for one minute and rub the skin gently to remove dirt. For smaller varieties, like cherry or grape tomatoes, put them in a colander first and follow the same process.

Other cleaning methods

Aside from soaking or rinsing in plain water, you can also clean produce with a vinegar soaking method. Along with fresh berries, this method is good for fruits like peaches and pears, plus other fruits with edible skins. To make a vinegar solution, combine one cup white or apple cider vinegar with four parts cold or hot water and soak the fruit for two to five minutes. Rinse and pat the fruit dry before eating or storing. A saltwater bath is also an effective cleaning method, which has gained popularity on social media for its success in removing bugs. Simply add two to three tablespoons of salt to a bowl of cold or hot water. Add your fruit and soak them for at least 15 minutes up to 30 minutes before removing and patting dry.